Freight car grain door



Aug. 2, 1966 c. R. LlsTER 3,253,734

' l FREIGHT CAR GRAIN DooR Filed Aug. 17, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 CHARLESR. /STER INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY C. R. LISTER FREIGHT CAR GRAIN DOOR Aug. 2, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Aug. 17, 1964 INVENTOR CHARLES R. L/STER ATTORNEY Aug` 2, 1966c. R. LISTER 3,263,734

FREIGHT CAR GRAIN DOOR Filed Aug. l?, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 CHA RLES R.LIS TER I NVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Aug. 2, 1966 c. R. Lls'rER FREIGHT CAR GRAIN DOOR 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 17, 1964 CHARLES R. L/STER INVENTOR.

ATTORN EY Filed Aug-17, 1964, Ser. No. 389,939 7 Claims. (Cl. 160-113)This invention relatesto anew and useful improvement in freight cars. Itcomprises an improved double overhead roller type grain retaining door.This door is a` permanent tixturein the freight car; the cars with suchdoors may also be used to transport commodities other than grain. Thisdoor prevents grain loss and minimizes labor time and cost while loading`and unloading the car and minimizes grain loss while transporting thegrain in cars equipped with such doors. It is particularly adapted forrailroad freight train cars.

One object of this invention is to provide a permanently attached graindoor which utilizes the weight of the grain to help provide for a firmseal at the door space edges.

Another object of this invention is to provide a grain door for afreight car with an improved trap door therein to facilitate theunloading of the car.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improvedautomatically lsealed door .structure movable to a position in the carpermitting other commodities to vbe transported in the car with aminimum head space loss.

These and other objects of this invention will be apparent tothoseskilled in the art upon the study of the below specication anddrawings, which drawings form a part of the specification `and whereinthe same number refers to the same part throughout:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic transverse longitudinal horizontal crosssectional view along plane 1A-1B of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical transverse section view along plane zA-zB ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view along section 3A-3B-3C-3D of `FIGURE 1 Ilookinginward of the car as along the direction of the arrow 3E of FIGURE 1 andFIGURE 2 showing the outer surface of and apparatus on a movable doorportionof one `door subassembly of this invention in its closedposition;

`FIGURE 4 is a perspective View of the trap door panel section in itsopen position;

FIGURE 5 is an overall interior perspective view of one side of theapparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detail showing zone 6A of FIGURE 5;

VFIGURE 7 is an` enlarged perspective view of zone- 7A of FIGURE 2 whenthe door 22 is raised;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged view of zone 8A of FIG- URE 5 showing detail ofan interior hinge and the roller thereof; and t FIGURE 9 is an enlargedview of zone 9A of FIG- URE `3.

The preferred embodiment of the apparatus of this invention is generallyshown las 14 in the -drawings and in the preferred embodiment isintended for use in a conventional railroad freight box car 15. The boxcar comprises `a conventional longitudinally extending left verticalwall 16right wall 17, a ceiling and roof 18, and a floor 19. The leftWall has a door opening 43 and the right wall has a door opening 42 eachoutlined by a frame therefor and firmly attached to or integral with theframe of the car which frame of the car is firmly attached to andsupports the ceiling or roof 18.

The apparatus 14 comprises a right hand assembly 20 and a left handassembly 21. The right hand assembly 20 comprises a movable right handhinged panel subassembly 22, .a lower vertical right hand tracksubassembly 24an`d an upper transverse right hand track subassembly 26.The left hand assembly 21 comprises a movable left United States PatentO ice hand hinged panel subassembly 23, a lower vertical left hand tracksubassembly 25 and an upper transverse left hand track subassembly 27.

The panel subassembly 22 comprises a lower, rigid trap door panel 30, alocking panel 32 thereabove and` hingedly attached thereto,v anintermediate 4panel 34 above the locking panel 32 and hingedly attachedthereto and a top panel 36 hingedly attached tothe top of intermediatepanel 34. 'Subassem-bly 22 also comprises a set of exterior guiderollers 1136 and a set of interior guide` rollers 108. Suhassem-bly 23also comprises a `set of exterior guide rollers 107 and -a set ofinterior guide rollers 109.

The lower vertical track subassembly 24 comprises a front right handvertical track 46 andr a rear right hand vertical track 48. The fronttrack 46 is rmly attache-d to the front edge 52 of the convention-aldoor opening 42 in wall 17 and the rear track is attached to the rear ting panel 33 and hingedly attached thereto a top panel` 37 hingedlyattachedto the top of panel 35. The lower y vertical track subassembly25 comprises a front left hand vertical track 47 and a rear left handvertical track (not shown) similar to 48,` The front track 47 is iirmlyattached to the front edge of the conventionaldoor opening 43 in wall 17and the rear track is attached to the rear edge of the door opening 43.The tracks` of subassembly 25 each extendfrom the bottom of the leftdoor opening 43, which bottom isco-planar with the floor 19substantially but not entirely to the top of the left hand door opening43.

The right uppertransverse track subassembly 26 comprises a right frontupper tr-ack subassembly 60 and a right'rear upper track subassembly 62.The front right upper track subassembly 60 and the rear upper tracksubassembly 62 are mirror images of each other and at the same level.The front right upper track subassembly 60 is firmly attached to andsupported by a central brace, 64,

and a lateral end brace, 66, on the frame of the car 15 near the ceilingthereof. Subassembly 62 is similarly attached and supported. The frontright upper track subassembly 60 is spaced slightly forward of thefrontframe of the right door entrance and firmly attached thereto; theright rear upper track subassembly 62 is spaced slightly tothe rear ofthe rear frame 54 of the right door entrance and firmly attachedthereto.

The left upper tnansverse sub-assembly 27 comprises a left front uppertrack subassembly 61 and a left rear upper track subassembly 63. Thefront left upper track subassembly 61 and the rear upper tracksubassembly 63 are mirror images of each other and at the` same level.The front left upper track subassembly 61 is firmly attached to yandsupported by a central brace 64 and a lateral brace 67 on the frame ofthe oar 15 near the ceiling thereof and, as below described, below thelevel of the subassembly 60 while subassembly 63 is correspondinglybelow subassembly 62. The front left upper track subassembly 61 isspaced slightly forward of the front frame of the left door opening andiirrnly attached thereto; the left rear upper track subassembly 63 isspaced slightly to the rear of the rear frame of the left door entranceand firmly attached thereto. subassembly 63 is supported firmly in themanne-r of support of s-ubassembly 61.

Track subassembly 60 comprises a right front transverse track 70, asafety latch 72, a spring 74, Ia central sheave 76, a later-al sheave78, and a front spring cable 80. The front track 70 is supported on alateral end brace 66 located slightly forward of the front edge orframing 52 of opening 42. The end brace is supported on the fra-me ofwall 17 and on a center brace 64 which extends along the length of car15.

The rear right track subassembly 62 comprises a rear transverse track90; a safety latch 92, a spring 94, a center sheave 96, a lateralsheave, and a rear spring cable 100. The rear horizontal track issupported on a rear end brace and on a rear center brace similar tobraces 66 and 64. The exterior set of rollers 106 of the sub-assembly 22easily lits into the tracks 46 and 48 of the subassembly 24 in the lowerposition of subassembly 22. The interior guide rollers 108 of thesubassembly 22 easily fit into tracks 70 and 90 of the subassembly 26 inthe raised position of the subassembly 22.

The exterior set of rollers 107 of the subassembly 23 easily fit intothe vertical tracks 'as 47 of the subassembly 25 in the lower positionof subassembly 23. The interior guide rollers 109 of the subassembly 23easily fit into the tracks as 71 of the upper track subassembly 27 inthe raised position of the subassembly 23.

Accordingly, the subassembly 23 is a mirror image of the subassembly 22and is interchangeable therewith, while the subassemblies 25 and 27 aresimilar to but not mirror `images of the subassemblies 24 and 26 due todifferences in heights of the upper portions thereof.

Track subassembly 61 comprises a front transverse track 71, safety latch73, a spring 75, a central sheave 77, a lateral sheave 79 and a cable81. The front transverse track 71 is supported on a front center brace64 and on a lateral end brace firmly supported on the frame of car 15.Track 71 is located forward of the rear edge of the front frame member53 for `opening 43 and the end brace for track 71 is firmly attached tothe front of that frame member 53.

The rear left track subassembly 63 is a mirror image of front leftsubassembly 61 in the same manner subassembly 62 is a mirror image ofsubassembly 60.

The vtrap door panel 30 comprises a rigid peripheral frame 110 `and atrap door panel subassembly 120 hingedly supported thereon for outwardpivotal motion thereabout and a seal between those sub-assemblies.

The frame 110 comprises an upper imperforate edge panel 86 with an upperedge 111, a lower edge panel 87 with a lower edge 112, a rear edge panel88 with a verti-c-al rear edge 113 and a front edge panel 89 `with avertical front edge 114. The panels 86, 87, 88, and 89 of the frame 110are imperforate and outline an orifice 115. The orifice has a top edge116, a bottom edge 117, a rear edge 118 and a front edge 119. Metalstrips 87A, 88A, and 89A are fiexible and extend into orice 115 frompanels 87, 88, and 89, respectively, and, in the closed position ofpanel 121, form a seal therewith over edges 117, 118 and 119respectively.

A strip 85 of a flexible sheet of plastic fiber webbing unaffected bycommon solvents, weak alkalies and acid, tough, resilient and resistantto abrasion, strong and durable having a high tensile strength (as13,000 p.s.i.) and a high compressive strength (such as 11,000 p.s.i.)and a high continuous heat resistance (such as 290 F.) and good`dielectric properties as well as the property of selfextinguishingflame such as the polyamide -resins sold under the name of Nylon 66 andpolycaprolactam is attached to the bottom of panel 86: it extends intoorifice 115 and, when panel 121 is closed, forms a seal therewith overedge 116. An upper pair of front and rear outer rollers 266 and 267,respectively, and a lower pair of front and rear outer rollers 268 and269, respectively, are rotatably yet firmly attached to the outersurface of frame 110 and an upper pair of front and rear interiorrollers 217 and 218 respectively and lower pair of front and rearinterior rollers 219 and 220 are supported on the interior surface offrame 110. Each upper pair of inner front and rear rollers has the samelongitudinal axis of rotation; each lower pair of inner front and rear-rollers has the same longitudinal axis of rotation; each upper pair ofouter front and rear rollers has the same longitudinal axis of rotation;each lower pair of outer front and rear rollers has the samelongitudinal axis of rotation.

Portions of the trap door latching subassembly are also attached to theouter surface of panels 88 and 89.

The trap door subassembly 120 comprises a trap door panel 121, and atrap door panel locking subassembly therefor. The -components of thelocking subassembly are pivotally and slidably yet firmly attached topanel 121 and serve to latch it on to frame 110. Trap door panel 121 isa rigid imperf-orate rectangular panel; it is hingedly attached byhinges 122, 123 and 124 at its front and rear and center respectively atthe top edge thereof to panel 86; panel 121 meets Iand covers the trapdoor orifice 115. The trap door locking subassembly comprises a trapdoor panel locking handle 125, front and rear trap door locking arms 128and 129, a handle latch 130, front and rea-r tr-ap door locking armsupport brackets 134 and 135 and, on frame 110 front and rear trap doorpanel latches 136 and 137. The trap door locking subassembly providesfor opening of the trap door 120 from the o-utside and for closing it asdesired.

Handle 125 is rigid and is pivotally attached at a pivotal support 126to the outside surface 127 `of the door panel 121. The rigid handle 125is provided with a rigid upper arm and a rigid lower arm. The upper larmof the handle is pivotally attached through a pivot pin to a rigid rearpanel locking arm or bar 129 which is moved thereby through a supportbracket on panel 121 to reciprocate forward and backward 'along thelength of the trap door to engage a latching bracket 137 on panel 88 tothe rear of the rear edge of the orifice 115. Extension 139 controlssubassembly 150. The lower arm of handle 125 is pivotally attached by ap-ivot pin to a movable rigid forward locking arm or bar 128 which isslidably supported in a bracket 134 on panel 121 to engage with alatching bracket 136. Latching bracket 136 is firmly supported on panel89 forward of the front edge 119 of the orifice 115. The lower arm ofhandle 125 has an extension, 139, with a hole 140 therein. The hole 140matches a hole in latch 130. Latch 130 is located to receive and holdhandle 125. The holes in latch 130 and handle 125 permit them to be heldtogether by a conventional padlock. Latch 130 is fixedly attached to thefront surface of the panel 121. It engages and holds handle 125 inposition as shown in FIGURE 3 for fixed engagement of the arms 128 and129 in locking relationships with the brackets 136 and 137 to keep door120 closed. A handle 143 is firmly attached to the bottom portion of thepanel 87.

The bottom edge of the panel 32 is joined to the top edge -of panel 30on the interior surfaces of those panels by central hinge 191, fronthinge 192 and rear hinge 193.

The right locking panel 32 supports a movable door locking subassemblyon its outer surface 145, as well as a pair of outer rollers 264 and 265and supports therefor near its front and rear ends, respectively.

The panel 32 has a top edge 146, a bottom edge 147, a front edge 148 anda rear edge 149. The locking panel 32 supports a pair of inner rollers215 and 216 and supports therefor near its front and rear ends,respectively. The outer rollers have 'a common longitudinal axis ofrotation and the inner rollers have a common longitudinal axis lofrotation.

The door locking subassembly 150 comprises a rotatable door control arm152, front and rear latch bars 154 and 155 pivotally connected thereto,and front and rear latch bar support and spring loading subassemblies156 and 157. Subassernblies 156 and 157 are mirror images of each otherstructurally. The front latch subassembly 156 comprises a U-shapedbracket 158 wherein there is located a compressed spring 160 which bearsagainst an enlarged shoulder 162 of the arm, 'as 154 which passesthrough said bracket and urges the forward end 164 of the latch bar 154forward into latching engagement with the right door front latching hole166 in front right vertical track 46 or the latching hole 290 in thesafety latch 72 ion right front transverse track 70.

The rear right latch subassembly 157 comprises a, U- shaped bracket 159wherein there is located a compressed spring which bears against anenlarged shoulder of the iarm, as 155, which passes through said bracketand urges the `rear end of the latch bar 155 into latching` engagementwith the right rear door latching hole in the rear right vertical track48 or a latchinghole in the safety latch 92 in the right transversetrack 90.

The right intermediate door panel 34 is a ilat rigid imperforate sheet;it comprises an upper edge 170, a lower edge 171, 'a front edge 172 anda rear edge 173. The front edge 172 is vertical and in line with the`vertical front edges 148, 114 and 183of` panels 432, 30 and 36,respectively. The rear edge 173 is vertical and in line with thevertical rear edges 149, 184 and 113 of panels 32, 36 and 30,respectively. At its lower edge l171 the panel 34 is hingedly joined tothe upper edge 146 of the panel 32. A central hinge 176, a front hinge197 and a rear hinge 198 join the lower edge 172 to the upper edge 146of the panel 32. The hinges 176, 197 and 198 are attached to theinterior surfaces of each of the panels 34 and 32. Panel 34 supports onyits outer surface 170 a pair of a front and rear outer rollers 262 and263 and supports therefor near t-o but spaced inwardly of its front andrear edges respectively. The outer rollers have a commonlongitudinalaxis of rotation. The panel 34 also supports on its inner surface 175 atits, front and rear end-s respectively, `a pair of inner rollers 213 and214 and the supports therefor. These inner rollers have a commonlongitudinal axis of rotation.

Top panel 36 is an imperforate rigid panel with an outer surface 180 andan inner surface 185. The top" panel 36 has a top edge 181, a bottomedge 182, a front edge 183, and a rear edge 184. The bottom edge 182 ofpanel 36 is hingedly attached to the top edge 171` of the panel 34 by acenter hinge 186, a front hinge 187, and a rear hinge 188. The hingesare attached to the interior surfaces of those panels.

Panel `36 iirmly yet rotatably supports on its outer surface 180 a pair`of front and rear outer rollers 260 and 261 respectively and supportstherefor near to but spaced inwardly of its front andrear` edgesrespectively. These outer rollers have a common longitudinal axis ofrota-` tion. Panel 36 also supports onits inner surface 185 at` itsfront and rear ends respectively a pair of inner rollers 189 and 190'and supports therefor; These inner rollers have a common longitudinalaxis of rotation.

Each of the interior rollers as 213 through 218 are identical in sizeand shape and each is supported on a shaft, `as 271 for roller 215,whichshaft passes through and joins the eyes of each of the hingeplates272 and 273 of a common double leaf hinge as' 197. The upper hingeplate is joined to the upper of the thereby hingedly joined panels as34and the lower plate is joined to the" lower of such panels, as 32. Theaxes of rotation of each of the front and rear rollersV at the sameheight, as 215 and216, are about the axis of the shafts therefor and areon the same longitudinal axis; that axis passes parallel to and at thesame height as the top edge of the lower panel to which the hingesupporting the rollers is attached and` through the eyes of the plates`of the central hinge 176 horizontal) position.

The`rollers`211,` 212, 219 and 220 are identical and .are supported onidentical hinges 189, 1901, 194` and 195 respectively: these hinges` areidentical in structure to hinges 187, 188, 197, 198, 192 and 193: therelations of rollers 211 aud`212 andof 219 and 220f to each other arethe same for rollers 215 and 216 except that both plates of hinges 189and 190 are attached to panel 36 below the top edge thereof and bothplates of hinges 194 and 195 are attached to panel 30 above the bottomedge of panel 30.

The upper rollers on the outer surface of each panel as 30, 32, 34, and36 of subassembly 22 (and 23) are all, in the position shown in FIGURES3 and. 5, except for the lowermost outer rollers, the same distancebelow the rollers shown generally at the same level,(e.g. 265 and 216)on the inner surface ofthat panel. Allthe interior rollers 211, 213,215, 217 and 219 are equi-spaced from each other and rollers 212, 214,216, 218 and 220 are correspondingly spaced, although the axes ofrotation 215 and 217 are located in one, first, vertical plane and therollers 212, 214, 216, 218 and 220 are located in a second verticalplane parallel to that rst vertical plane.

The front rollers 211, 213, 215, 217 and 219 engage and roll in thefront right transverse track 70 and the rear rollers 212, 214, 216,218`and 220 engage and rolll in the rear right transverse track as rwhen the movable subassembly 22 is in its upper or transverse (generallyThe front rollers similarly attached to the interior surface ofcomponents of subassembly 23 engage and roll in the left track 71 andthe rear rollers similarly attached to the interior surface of thecomponents of subassembly 23 at their rear similarly engage and roll inthe rear left transverse track when the movable subassembly 23 is in itsupper position. FIGURE l shows the subassembly 23 movedtoward but notcompletely in its upper position.

On the outer surface of subassembly 22, as seen in` FIGURES 2 and 3, atthe upper edge of each of panels 30, 32, 34 and 36 and inwardly spacedaway from the front and rear edges o'f each of the panels 30, 32, 34 and36 and rrnly attached thereto are a series of front outer rollers 260,262, 264 and 268 and a series of rear outer rollers 261, 263, 265, 267and 269 for engagement with the vertical tracks attached to thefrontfand rear door frame members 52 and 54, respectively. Allv of theserollers `are identical in size and shape. roller, as 265, is rmlyattached to and supported on a shaft as 223; the shaft is rmly yetrotatably supported in co-axial circular holes in the arms of a U-shapedbracket as 225; the bracket is rmly attached to the front surface of thepanel, as 34, with the top `edge of the bracket 225 at the level of theupper edge of the panel for panels 30, 32, 34 and 36. Panel 30 is alsoprovided with a lower front roller 268 and a lower rear roller 269, thesupporting brackets for which have their lower edges at one inch abovethe lower edge 112 thereof.

Therear exterior rollers as 261, 263, 265,267 and 269 t The frontexterior rollers as 260, 262, 264, 266 and` 268 for each ofsubassemblies 22 and 23 are spaced rearwards and away from the frontedges of panels as 30, 32,

Each i 34 and 36 thereof (which front edges form a straight verticalline in the lowered position thereof as shown for subassembly 22 inFIGURE 5) by a distance slightly larger than the front to rear distanceacross the fr'ame member 52, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The lower right vertical track subassembly 24 of the car 15 comprises afront right vertical track 46 and a rear right vertical track 48. Track46 is firmly attached to the rear of the front right door frame verticalmember 52 and track 48 is firmly attached to the front of the right reardoor frame vertical member 54. Each track as 46 is C-shaped andcomprises a vertical end member 242, an inner lip as 244 and an outerlip 246 joined to member 242 and a slot 248 between the free ends ofmembers 244 and 246. The groove 248 is such a size as to freelyaccommodate the shaft for each of the rollers 260, 262, 264, 266 and268. The track 48 is a mirror image of track 46 and similarly freelyaccommodates the shafts for the rollers 261, 263, 265, 267 and 269. Thetrack 46 extends upward to about six inches of the top of the door frameand there is expanded inwardly of the car 15 and forms upper verticaltrack opening 250.

In the closed or lowered position of subassembly 22, rollers 260, 262,264, 266 and 268 engage in the right front vertical track 46 and rollers261, 263, 265, 267 and 269 engage in the right rear vertical track 48.The slots as 248 in track 46 are larger than the roller shaft diameter,but smaller than the diameter of the rollers and so hold the rollers andsubassemblies as 22 in place. These rollers have a loose t in the tracksand do not bear weight during grain transport. The pressure of the grainon the interior surface of the subassemblies as 22 forces the portionsas 227 and 228 of the door panels adjacent to the door frame against thedoor frame members as 52 and 54 :and forms a firm seal therebetween.This seal is adequate to prevent escape of grain therebetweennotwithstanding the usual vibrations of such grain cars during transportof grain over conventional railroad tracks.

The adjacent edges as 171 and 182, 172 and 146, and 147 and 116 of thepanels as 30, 32, 34 and 36 in the vertical position of subassemblies 22and 23 form a close t. Additionally, strips 201, 202, and 203 and 204 ofplastic webbing of the same characteristics as webbing 85, are used toseal the spaced between neighboring panel edges and between edges 112and floor 19 against the passage of grain therethrough. Strips 201, 202and 203 are made of the same material as seal strip 85 and are attachedt the interior surface of the panels of subassembly 22. Each strip 201,202, 203 extends from 1 inch above the bottom edges of panels 36, 34 and32 to 1 inch` below the top edge of the panel therebelow and a similarstrip 204 attached to the bottom of panel 87, these strips are eachfirmly attached to the interior surface of the said upper panel for itsentire length and provide further assurance of a grain tight sealbetween the panels: the seal is held in place by the weight of thegranular material carried in the car 15 between the subassemblies 22 and23. Strips 201 through 204 are shown broken away in FIGURE 5 to moreclearly show the relationship between the various panels and hinges.

The front rig-ht transverse track 70 is rigid, strong and C-shaped intransverse section. It has a lower lip 280, an upper lip 282 and acentral plate 284 all firmly joined together. A slot 286 is located.between the free edges of lips 280 and `282. The space enclosed withinthe lips of the track 70 freely houses the rollers 211, 213, 215, 217and 219 in the upper position of subassembly 22. The slot 286accommodates the shaft for these rollers but is narrower than thediameter of the rollers. Accordingly the rollers are rmly located int-he track. The lateral end of track 70 curves downward t-o 4adownward-ly directed opening 252 which is at a vertical level slightlybelow the vertical level of opening 250.

The rear transverse track 90 is a mirror image of track 8 70. It has aslot to accommodate the shafts for each of the rollers 212, 214, 216,218, and 220 and the space within track houses those rollers in theupperposition of suibassernbly 22.

The lateral end of track 90 opens downward at an opening which isslightly below the level of the top of member 48; that opening isdirectly in the upward vertical paths of the rollers 212, 214, 2.16, 218and 220 from their lowered position as shown in FIGURE 5 and opening 252is similarly directly in the upward paths of rollers 211, 213, 215, 217and 219 when subassembly 22 is moved upwards in subassernbly 24. This isbecause the distance measured transversely of the length of car 15 fromthe center of slot 248 to the center of slot 286 at the vertical levelof opening 252 is the same as the distance, measured transversely of thelength of car 15, from the plane of the axes of rotation of the group ofinner rollers, 108 (said group including the rollers 211 through 220) tothe plane of the axes of rotation of the group of outer rollers 106,(said group comprising the rollers 260 through 269) during verticalupward movement of the subassembly 22. The same relation of the axes ofrotation of the group of inner rollers 109 and outer rollers 107 onsubassembly 23 and vertical slots in the vertical tracks of the leftvertical track subassembly 23 and the openings in the upper transversetracks of subassembly 27 are provided as above discussed for the seriesof rollers `106 and 108 on subassembly 22, and the tracks ofsubassemblies 24 and 26. This provides for smooth transfer of thesubassembly 23 into the tracks of subassembly 27 on upward movement ofthe subassembly 23 along the tracks of subassembly 25. In their raisedposition the subassemblies 22 and 23 are, respectively supported on thetracks of the subassembly 27 by the inner rollers 108 and 109.

The outer lip 246 of each of the vertical tracks as 46 continues upwardabove the height of thebottom opening 252 of the adjacent transversetrack, as 70, to insure guidance of the inner set of rollers as 108 intoa slot 286 by the outer set of rollers 106. Slot 286 is widened at itsopening to facilitate such entry.

Above the level of the bottom and downwardly facing opening 252 of thetrack 70' the inner lip 244 of the track 46 curves centrally while outerlip 246 extends vertically and the slot 248 widens. The inner edge oflip 244 curves central-ly with the same transverse Width until itslongitudinal projection intersects the vertical projection of the outeredge of the inner lip of the Slot 286 at opening 252 and slot 248correspondingly widens. This facilitates entry of the outer rollerthereinto on downward and outward movement of panel 30 from tracks 70and 90 to tracks 46 and 48. The slot 286 also widens laterally nearopening 252 to the full width of member 284. Accordingly, the upwardmotion of subassembly 22 smoothly moves roller 211 into track 70 anddownward and lateral motion of roller 219 in track 70 brings roller 268into the upper opening 250 of track 46.

This relationship provides the following: on release of the ends of theassembly by pulling on control cord 159 which attaches to a-rrn 152 whendownward movement of the subassembly 22 is desired from latches 72 and92 and pulling outward and downward on handle 143, outward motion of thesubassemhly 22 from its upper position (sup-ported on track 70) isbegun. Then the front members 268, 266, 264, 262 and 260 of the outerset of rollers 106 freely enter opening 250 in track 46 and the rollers269, 267, 265, 263 and 261 similarly smoothly enter the opening thereforat the top of track 48. The relationship of tracks 90 and 48 and 7.1 and47 is the same as that for 70 and 46 above discussed.

The track 70 extends to a closed end 288 which is sufficiently f-ar fromthe open end 252 to accommodate the entire length of the subassembly 22,i.e., from the top edge 18-1 of panel 36 to the bottom edge 112 oflowest panel 30. A right front cable 80 extends central-ly from a fixedend 295 to central sheave 76 then around lateral 9 sheave 78, which ispivotally attached by a U-shaped holder to the front of a horizontalentrance frame member 58 (which bounds the upper edge of entrance 42 andis firmly attached to members 52 and 54) down to the outer surface ofbottom edge 112 of panel 30. Right rear cable 100`extends from a fixedend to cen-tral sheave 96, thence to `and around a lateral sheaveattached to the rear of member 58 and is xed to the bottom of the outerrear surface of panel 30.` A track 71 extends to a closed end 289 whichis suiciently far from the open end thereof to accommodate the entirelength of the subassembly 23, i.e., from the top edge 181" of panel 37to the bottom edge of pianel 31. The left front cable 81 extendscentrally from its fixed end 296 to itscentral sheave 77 thence to thelateral sheave 79 which'is pivotally attached by a` U-Ishaped holdertherefor to a horizontal door frame member 59 which bounds the upperedge of entrance 43,`

and continues from said sheave to the outer surface of the bottom of thelowest panel 31` whereat it is fixed.

The springs 74` and 94 support at least the bulk o-f the weight ofsubassembly "22 and permit it to be readily raised tfrom its loweredposition yet have a suliiciently low tension to permit it to be loweredconveniently.` The spring 75 andthe corresponding spring in the rear ofsubassembly 27 bear simil-ar relation to subassemlbly 23.

The tension of springs 74 and 94 and corresponding springs onsubassembly 27 are adjusted by adjusting the spacing of their fixed ends`from the frame of thercar 15.

The upper left front horizontal track 71 is spaced below the right fronthorizontal track 70 sufficiently to allow the rollers projecting fromthe external surface of subassembly 23 to clear the lower surface of thesubassembly 22 when both subassemblies 22 and 23 are in their respectiveupper horizontal tracks as 70 and 71.` This clearance also provides thatthe rollers projecting from the external surface of the subassembly 22will not interfere with the frame of the car 15. In the upper positionof the subassembly 22 end 164 of bar 154 enters the hole 290in the frontupper safety latch 72 on front upper track 70 while the rear end of thelatch arm 155 enters a hole therefor corresponding to 290, in the safetylatch 92 attached tothe track 90. In the upper position of thesubassembly 23 the latching bar ends enter hole therefor in a latch as73 on the front upper track 71 and a similar latch on the gear uppertrack of subassembly 63.

Release of trap door 120 releases grain from the car 1'5.` Removal ofthe grain releases pressure forcing each movable door subassembly as 22against the door frame members, as 52 and 54. Release of subassembly 150from holes 166 and 167 permits a slight pull and springs as 74 and 94 toraise each door subassembly as 22. The luse of two longitudinally spacedapart sets of rollers as 106 and 107 on separate lower vertical andupper transverse tracks therefor on each subassembly as 22 permitspanels of each subassembly to be located in place or Ifolded nearceiling with-a minimum of interference with headroom space andfacilitates use of the car for transport of other commodities thangrain.

The apparatus 22 and 23 do not interfere with use of conventionalrailroad doors as sliding side doors as 292 and 293. While the apparatusis described in relation to `a freight car, it may also be used fortrailer and trucks to permit `such to conveniently,` efficiently, andeconomically load, haul and emp-ty granular material in a coveredvehicle and readily convert said vehicle to carry other commodities witha minimum of head space loss and a minimum of interference with the workand cargo space and capacity in such vehicles. In a particularembodiment of apparatus i1t4 in a railroad freight car 15, 9' 4 wide,50' 6" long, l0 6" high, the springs 54 and 94 are each 32 long and 2wide; the sheaves as 96 and 98 are 31/2 in outer diameter; cables 80 and81 are 14s. steel braided cable; panels 32 through 37 are all 1A thickaluminum high and 181" wide for double door use when openings as 42 areeach 173" wide and 114 high (and 102" wide for 100,000 lbs. capacitygrain cars with 94 doors and 80" wide for 80,000 lbs. capacity graincars with 72" doors); panels 30 and 31 `are 22 high and otherwise thesame as panels 32 through 37; rollers 211 through 220 are 11/2 diameter;panel 37 is 4 high; panel 86 is 8" high. Lateral opening 252 of track 70is 12" below the bottom lip `280 where horizontal and 9 0" above floor19 and `2 below the vertical level of opening 250. The lateral downwardopening of track 71 is 12 below its lower lip where horizontal and 8 6above door 19 and 2 below the upper opening and end of `track 47. Tracks46 and 48 extend 110" above door 19; track 47 to 104 above floor 19. Thevertical tracks as 46 and l4l! may be iiush with lthe inner edges of thedoor frame elements as 52 and 54 framing opening 42 and are fastenedthereto. sill 297 `is firmly attached to iloor 19 and to members 52 and5'4. The vertical frame members 52 and 54 each have smooth llat verticalinner surfaces 277 and 278 each 31/2 wide which form a grain tight sealwith the flat panel portions 227 and 228, The longitudinal upwardly openchannel 279 in sill 297 is S/s" wide and 1" deep and receives edge 11=2and reinforces panel 30 as well as aids 4in sealing that edge. A similarsill 298 is provided in entrance 43 for panel 31. The tips of bar endsas 164 are conical and the holes 166 and'190 are correspondingly conicalto provide a tight spring loaded fit therebetween.

As shown in FIGURE 5 each upper transverse track member as 70 comprisesa central horizontal portion and a lateral downwardly curved portionlirmly joined together. The downwardly curved portion extends t0 belowythe upper end 250of the vertical `member 46 and well above the upperedge 181 thereof in its lower vertical position.` Each lower verticaltrack extends vertically from the floor of the car upward to above lowerend 252 of the track 70 and terminates lower than the bottom edge of thehorizontal portion thereof. Also, as shown in FIGURE 5 each saidvertical track as 46' and each transverse track member neighboringthereto as 70 is longitudinally separated by the inner surface, as 277ofthe vertical frame member, as 52, supporting that vertical track (as46). FIGURE 5 shows, at 299 and 300, the extension of a flat verticalplane which includes the axes ofrotation of the inner rollers as 211 and212, 213 and 214, of set 108 intersecting the downwardly directedopenings of the lupper tracks 70 and 71 at the lateralend of theirdownwardly curved portions. This vertical plane is parallel to butspaced inwardly away from the flat vertical plane which intersects theslots as 248 in each of lthe vertical tracks as 46 by the same distance(measured `transversely of the length of car 15) as the axes of rotationof the inner rollers, as 108, are spaced away from the axes of rotationof the outer rollers as 106 for assembly 22.

Although in accordance with the provision of the patent statutes,particular preferred embodiments off this invention have been describedand the principles of the invention have been described in the best modein which it it now contemplated applying such principles, it will beunderstood that the operations, constructions and compositions shown anddescribed are merely illustrativeand that my invention is not limitedthereto and, accordingly, alterations and modifications which readilysuggest themselves to persons skilled in the art without departing fromthe true spirit of the disclosure hereinabove are intended to beincluded in the scope of the annexed claims.`

I claim:

1. A pair of grain door assemblies for permanent attachment in a freightcar, said car comprising a longitudinally extending .right verticalsidewall, a longitudinally extending left vertical side wall oppositeand parallel thereto, a ceiling aiiixed to the top of the right and leftwalls `and a horizontal floor firmly affixed at the bottoms An inwardlylsloped channelled of said right and left walls, an opening in 'each ofsaid vertical side Walls, a frame outlining each said opening, each saidIframe comprising a rigid front vertical member and a rigid rearvertical member, said frame members extending to the floor of said carand firmly affixed thereto, each of said grain door assembliescomprising a movable door subassernbly, a vertically extending tracksubassembly for holding said door subassembly in a vertical loweredposition and a transversely extending track subassembly for holding saiddoor subassernbly in an elevated horizontal position, said movable doorsubassembly comprising a series of hingedly connected togetherhorizontally extending rigid panels each said panel extendinglongitudinally in the length of one of said side walls, a pair of `frontand rear outer rollers supported on and rotatably attached to the frontand rear end of each said panels, said rollers each being rotatableabout the same longitudinally extending axis, each -front and rear outerroller rota-ting in a zone exterior to the exterior surface of the panelto which attached and each said front and rear roller beinglongitudinally spaced inward `from the front 'and rear end respectivelyof said panel, a pair of supports at each end of each said panels andfirmly attached to the inner surface thereof, one said support at thefront end, the other at the rear end of each said panel, each of a pairof lfront and rear inner rollers rotatable about a common axis extendinglongitudinally of said panel and rotatably supported in each of saidsupports, each of said front and r-ear inner rolle-rs rotating in a zoneextending beyond the front and rear edges respectively of said panels,said panels each respectively extending forward of the -forward edge ofthe forward frame member of the door opening and rearward of the rearframe member of the door opening and forming a grain tight seal-ingcontact between the outer surface of each said panel and the innersurface of each said frame member;

said vertically extending track subassernbly comprising a verticallyextending track attached to and supported by the front `frame member ofsaid wall opening and a vertically extending track attached to andsupported by the rear frame member of said wall opening, said outerrollers of said movable door subassernbly each tting loosely in saidvertically extending tracks in the lowered position of said movabledoor, lsaid track members being supported at `the same height and beingmirror images of each other and located with the same rela-tions to thetransversely extending tracks; said transversely extending tracksubassernbly comprising a pair of `transversely extending generallyhorizontal and parallel `transverse `front and rear tracks eachsupported adjacent to the ceiling of the ca-r above the level of the topsaid movable door subassembly when said door subassernbly is in itslowered vertical position, said tracks for said movable door subassemblybeing spaced apart the same distance as the rollers on the inner surfaceof the said movable door subassernbly and in the same transverse planeas the plane of rotation of the inner rollers thereof, each 4sa-id pairof transversely extending tracks comprising a front member and a rearmember, said members being supported at the same height and beingmi-rror images of each other and located with the same relations to thevertically extending tracks of said movable door subassernbly, each saidupper transverse track member comprising a central horizontal portionand a lateral downwardly curved portion firmly joined together, thedownwardly curved portion of each of said upper transverse tracks eachextending to below the upper end of the vertical member, each saidvertically extending tracks of said grain door assembly extending 'fromthe iioor of the car upward to above the lower ends of the transversetracks of said grain door assembly but terminating lower than the ripperend thereof; each said vertical track and each said transverse trackmembers neighboring thereto being longitudinally separated by the widthof the inner -surface of said vertical frame member.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each vertical track in its verticalportion is C-shaped in transverse horizontal section and has a verticalslot opening towards each other, and a firs-t vertical flat planeparallel to the length of the car passes through said slots and theouter roller and each said transversely extending track is C-shaped intransverse vertical section in. its horizontal portion with the slotsopen towards each other and the lateral end of each transverse track hasa downwardly facing opening and said opening lies in a second verticalplane parallel to said first vertical flat plane and wherein lies theaxes of rotation of the inner rollers on said panels of said movabledoor subassernbly and said second transverse plane is transverselyspaced away inwardly of said car lwalls from said lirst vertical planeby a distance which is the same as the transverse distance between theaxes of rotation of said inner rollers and the axes of rotation of saidouter rollers on said movable door subassembly when said movable doorsubassembly is in a `vertically extended position with its bottomadjacent to the iioor of said car.

3. Apparatus as in clairn 1 wherein the bottom panel of each said seriesof panels comprises a frame with top, bottom, front and rear edge panelsxedly joined together and a central panel hingedly attached at its topto the bottom of the top edge panel `for rotation outwards thereo-f,flexible sealing members joined to the interior surface of said top,bottom, front, and rear edge panels of the said bottom panel andrespectively extending below the bottom edge of the top edge panel,above the top edge of the bottom edge panel, forward of the lfront edgeof the rear edge panel, and rearwardly of the rear edge of the frontedge panel, latching means supported on and iirmly attached to the frontsurface of said movable panel, said latching means being movable to andfrom a position for engaging and disengaging from a latch holding memberattached to the frame of said bottom panel, said sealing members in theclosed position of said central panel forming 'a seal between said frameand said central panel.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the transversely extending tracksubassernbly for the movable door subassembly for and in the opening inone side wall of said car is at a level higher than the transverselyextending track subassernbly for the other side of said pair, said firsttrack subassernbly extending over the other and oomprises a verticallyextending space between the transversely extending tracks of said tracksubassemblies which accommodates the rollers extending externally of theouter surface of the movable door subassernbly supported on the lower ofsaid transversely extending track subassemblies.

5. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein .a panel in said movable doorsubassernbly has a spring loaded latching means movable to and fromlatching position and urged into locking position by springs, latchholding means on each tof said vertical extending track matching saidlatching means, whereby said door subassernbly is held in lzatchedposition by said latching means and said means on said verticallyextending tracks in the vertical lowered position of said movable doorsubassernbly, land wherein said upper horizontal parallel tracks haveattached thereto at the top surface thereof a safety latch comprising aholding means firmly attached to each said track and a hole thereinextending upwardly over the top of each of said tracks, said holeopening towards a space between said tracks whereby said latching meanson said panel in their expanded, locking position engage said hole insaid safety latch means.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein, for each said movable doorsubassernbly, a spring member is attached to a portion of the car frametransversely spaced away from the said movable door sub-assembly and atthe level of the transversely extending track subassernbly therefor,

l13 a cable is attached to a portion of said door frame above saidmovable door subassembly and said cable is attached to said spring andto said door subassembly and supponts the weight thereof.

7. A grain door :assembly comprising a movable door subassembly, avertically extending track subassembly for holding said doorsubassernbly in a vertical lowered position and la transveriselyextending track subassembly for holding said door subassembly in anelevated horizontal position; said movable door subassembly comprising aseries of lhingedly connected together horizontally extending rigidpanels, za pai-r of front and rear outer rollers supported on androtatably attached to the front land rear end yof each said panels, saidrollers each being rotatable about the same longitudinally extendingaxis, each front and ,rear outer roller rotating in a zone exterior tothe exterior surface of the panel to which attached and each said frontand rear roller being longitudinally spaced in- Ward from the front andrear end respectively of said panel, a pair of front and rear innerrollers rotatable about `a common axis extending longitudinally of saidpanel and rotatably supported on each of said panels, each of said frontand rear inner rollers rotating in la zone extending `beyond the frontand rear edges respectively of said panels, said panels eachrespectively extending forward of the forward edge of a forward framemember of a door opening and rearward of a rear frame member of thatdoor opening and forming a grain ltight sealing Contact between theouter surface of each said panel and tracks each supported adjacent tothe ceiling of the oar above the level of the top of said movable doorsubassembly when said door subassembly is in its lowered verticalposition, said tracks being spaced apart the same distance as `therollers on the linner surface of the said movable door subassembly andin the sarne ltransverse plane as the plane of rotation of the innerrollers thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,336,068 4/ 1920Chesebro. 1,461,839 7/1923 Tenneson. 1,630,680 5/1927 Twedt et al160-201 2,966,212 12/1960 Firnbel 160-189 X 3,079,987 3/1963 Kleini60-193 X HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

the inner surface of each said frame member; said verti- D- L TAYLOR,ASSSHW Examl'ne

7. A GAIN DOOR ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A MOVABLE DOOR SUBASSEMBLY, A VERTICALLY EXTENDING TRACK SUBASSEMBLY FOR HOLDING SAID DOOR SUBASSEMBLY IN A VERTICAL LOWERED POSITION AND A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING TRACK SUBASSEMBLY FOR HOLDING SAID DOOR SUBASSEMBLY IN AN ELEVATED HORIZONTAL POSITION; SAID MOVABLE DOOR SUBASSEMBLY COMPRISING A SERIES OF HINGEDLY CONNECTED TOGETHER HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING RIGID PANELS, A PAIR OF FRONT AND REAR OUTER ROLLERS SUPPORTED ON AND ROTATABLY ATTACHED TO THE FRONT AND REAR END OF EACH SAID PANELS, SAID ROLLERS EACH BEING ROTATABLE ABOUT THE SAME LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING AXIS, EACH FRONT AND REAR OUTER ROLLER ROTATING IN A ZONE EXTERIOR TO THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE PANEL TO WHICH ATTACHED AND EACH SAID FRONT AND REAR ROLLER BEING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED INWARD FROM THE FRONT AND REAR END RESPECTIVELY OF SAID PANEL, A PAIR OF FRONT AND REAR INNER ROLLERS ROTATABLE ABOUT A COMMON AXIS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID PANEL AND ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON EACH OF SAID PANELS, EACH OF SAID FRONT AND REAR INNER ROLLERS ROTATING IN A ZONE EXTENDING BEYOND THE FRONT AND REAR EDGES RESPECTIVELY OF SAID PANELS, SAID PANELS EACH RESPECTIVELY EXTENDING FORWARD OF THE FORWARD EDGE OF A FORWARD FRAME MEMBER OF A DOOR OPENING AND REARWARD OF A REAR FRAME MEMBER OF THAT DOOR OPENING AND FORMING A GRAIN TIGHT SEALING CONTACT BETWEEN THE OUTER SURFACE OF EACH SAID PANEL AND THE INNER SURFACE OF EACH SAID FRAME MEMBER; SAID VERTICALLY EXTENDING TRACK SUBASSEMBLY COMPRISING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING TRACK ATTACHED TO AND SUPPORTED BY THE FRONT 